Men's Basketball

Tenth Annual Suits & Sneakers Weekend Jan. 25-27

Jan 24, 2013

FAIRFIELD, CT (January 24, 2013) - During Saturday's basketball doubleheader with Monmouth, the coaching staffs of both teams will be part of more than 4,000 college and high school basketball coaches across the United States making an unusual fashion statement, when he wears sneakers with his game attire to support the Coaches vs. Cancer® program during the 10th annual Suits & Sneakers weekend.

This year, Sacred Heart Athletics is inviting faculty, staff and students to participate in this event by making a nominal donation in honor or memory of someone who has battled cancer. In exchange for your donation, you will receive a Wall of Hope card, which allows you to write the name of the individual you know who has battled cancer. The cards will be hung in the Pitt lobby for Saturday's game as a display of how cancer has impacted our lives.

By wearing sneakers, participating coaches help raise awareness about cancer and the importance that nutrition and physical activity play in reducing one's risk of the disease. Additionally, this weekend helps promote the American Cancer Society as a place for people facing cancer to turn for free information, day-to-day help, and emotional support.

A collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the Coaches vs. Cancer program brings coaches, teams and fans together to raise awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society by empowering basketball and other athletic coaches to save lives from cancer by leveraging their community leadership to support the Society. The funds raised by coach [insert name] and others help the American Cancer Society save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back against this disease.

Fans will also be able to join the effort to support the American Cancer Society. By texting the word "Coach" to 20222 any time between Jan. 21 and April 9, fans can donate $5 to Coaches vs. Cancer – and when they do, they will be entered for a chance to win exclusive prizes, like a free trip to the 2013 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic or autographed items from a prestigious coach. Look for more information on cancer.org/coaches, or to start your own Suits and Sneakers event, contact Katy Meagher at katy.meagher@cancer.org.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end cancer for good. As a global grassroots force of three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping you stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early, helping you get well by being there for you during and after a diagnosis, by finding cures through groundbreaking discovery and fighting back through public policy. As the nation's largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.8 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, an estimated 13.7 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.